THE MOTOR WORLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18879, 29 November 1924, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE MOTOR WORLD

A SLOGAN FOR MEW ZEALAND.

«• BETTER ROAD MAINTENANCE."

In his report on modern highway construction, which appears as an appendix to Public Works Statement for 1924, Mr. A. Tyndall, A.M.LC.E., lays particular emphasis on the question of maintenance. " The way to get good roads throughout the country," he states, " is not to make a fevered search for a supreme trafficdefying form of pavement and then build a few miles per annum. As great a mileage as possible of the medium types of construction must be laid down, but even the most optimistic must admit that this mileage can only be very small. The slogan for the country must be better maintenance.' " The few miles of high-class surfacing can onlv be obtained with heavy expenditure, which will impose a burden upon the taxpayer for many years. The maintenance of the bulk of the roads can be much improved with no further, annual expense to the taxpayer by the introduction of better methods, by better supervision, and by educating the actual man who works on the road. A moderate increase in the annual payments for scientific maintenance of our ordinary roads will also give a better return than the same money expended in defraying the overhead charges on a few miles of expensive pavement! This altitude seems to be the one adopted in and the Continent, where the roads are, in my opinion, more carefully maintained than in the United States. . , .'. , . "Where America has gone in tor vast construction programmes England has rather given more attention to maintenance. In 1914-15, England spent 9s 6d per head on maintenance. The/figures for 1920-21 were £1 3d per head. On most of the main roads leading out from London the cost of maintenance is from £700 to £1000 per mile per annum. The average expenditure on these roads works out at Is 3d per ton-mile of traffic. " Before leaving the general subject of maintenance I would like to say that there is no country with which I am acquainted where steel bridges receive as after construction as in New Zealand."

NEW ZEALAND MARKET.

'According to an announcement by the automotive division of the United States Department of Commerce, New Zealand is* maintaining its position, as one of the leading markets for cars and trucks made in the TJaited States.

Statistics compiled by the division show that during the first half .of this year, New Zealand., has held' twelfth place among.the passenger car markets' of the "United States, and fourteenth place among truck markets, as compared- with eleventh . and fourteenth, respectively, during the year 1923. Shipments to New Zealand so far this year have been only slightly less than of those during the twelve months of last year, showing that in general the automotive trade '• with this country is well sustained. The latter half of 1924, if consistent with past years, will se« the usual spring boom.

EXAMPLE yOR AUCKLAND GARAGES

A novel attraction was provided by a garage in New Plymouth recently by awarding free double tickets of admission to the pictures to the owners of the first ten cars entering the garage after 7 p.m. In addition, the first to enter and the "tenth to" receive a new tube and a new tyre respectively. As the make of the car eligible for the competition is one •of the most popular, it may easily be imaginedlihat a lively scene ensued. After ~wiitingioiLsoiiie'.tiroe, with his car parked close to the crossing, .an early comer had no difficulty in securing the first prize, but the tyre was more difficult to annex, and fine driving judgment was displayed bv the driver who eventually secured it. Now} then Auckland garages! please follow this lead.

AUCKLAND TO ROTORTTA.

'An Auckland resident accomplished an interesting night run to Rotorua last Sunday, leaving the city late in the evening and arriving at the thermal resort just before daybreak. He ' reports that the road was rough practically all the way, the best part being from Hamilton to Mamaku.

The surface-on the Eangiriri hills was better than he had experienced for many months, while the Mamaku Bush road was quite dry, though marred by a considerable number of pot-holes. The road is being metalled at the present time with soft rhyolite rock, which makes quite a good surface.

In .spite-of the general financial depression which is said to prevail throughout the Waikato district at the present time, there appears to be no indication of it in the motor trade. Various dealers in Hamilton state tihat during the past month or six weeks their sales have been steadily increasing. The demand appears to be mostly !for light cars, although Bales of heavy cars also show a steady increase. opinion of one dealer this preference was largely due to the bad state of roads off the main arterial highways, which in many parts are difficult, to negotiate in a heavy car. During last month sales of light cars constituted a record, and present indications are tbat this month's sales will establish a new record. ■• ..

The total number of motor vehicles registered in Hamilton during the twelve months from November 1, 1923, to October 31, 1924. was . 1175. Of these 852 were cars, 110 lorries or trucks, arid 208 motorcycles, other vehicle! 5. Ford cars were the most numerous, there being 390 registered: -the next in point of numbers being Studebaker, 71; Chevrolet, 56; Buick, 50; and Dodge 46.

Consternation has been caused among ratepayers of "the Matamata County at the frustrating of the county loan works for this summer by the petition to Parliament alleging irregularities in the poll for £201,000 taken on October 1. It was intended to metal and bituminise the main road from Waharoa to Lichfield— , portion of the Waihou-Taupo main high- i way—besides subsidiary roads, this season, j but unless the Government can provide i some way out of the difficulty, the county j cannot proceed. Ratepayers have protested to the members of Parliament for ' the district and it is hoped that at the meeting of the County Council next month i the chairman will be able to report hav- ! ing concluded arrangements with the i ministers concerned to allow the works j to proceed. J

Mangatangi-Mlranda Road. —Proposals have been prepared and submitted to the Public Works Department by the Franklin County Council for approval for metal.ling 80 chains of this road at a cost of £489.

Maia Waiuku-Manukau Heads Eoad.— The construction of a portion of this road is being carried out by the Franklin County .Council plant and is nearing completion. Two other sections of this road n »° er contract will be pushed ahead with •11 possible speed.

BY FOCUS.

NOTES. The South Canterbury Automobile Association (Timaru) now has a membership Of 477.

Motorists may now truck their cars over the whole of,the railway line between Christchurch and Otir'a.

A great increase in shipment of used cars to Japan has been noted. It is due, some say, to a shortage of rickshaw men, resulting from the earthquake and subsequent demand for building labour.

Though the Smithfield Cattle Show once attracted the largest number of provincial visitors to London, a London daily, newspaper holds the opinion that the Automobile Exhibition now attracts far greater numbers than ever came to view fat cattle.

There are upwards of 80 hotels in the North Island and 86 in the South Island on the hotel concession list of the North and South Island Unions respectively. It is estimated that 10,000 motorists in both islands will bo able to secure the concessions of the scheme.

Someone committed the senseless act of shattering a bottle in the middle of the Domain Drive near the big corner at the Stanley Street end during the week. This is well calculated to add to the friction which exists between motorists and those idiots who do such things.

G. Campari, the Italian, who won the Grand Prix of Europe, had earned a great reputation in Italy before he made his first appearance in France in the big event which he won. He specialised in hill climbs and winding courses, where the best qualities of a driver are brought into play.

Sales of new cars in England during 1925 will amount, the Motor Trader estimates, to 95,000, of which number 60,000 will be bought by people who already own cars. At present there are 473,000 private cars in use in the United Kingdom, and recruits to the movement will number 35,000.

Registrations of motor vehicles with the traffic department of the Auckland City Council were heavier during the past week than previously. Motor-cars and motor-trucks numbered 98, as against 76 for the previous week, while motor-cycles numbered 15, as against 19.

The recommendation made to the l\ew Zealand motor unions for the standardisation of road signs throughout the Dominion is a very wise one, and it is to be hoped.that it contains the reform of " staggered " arms, where the posts contain more than two directions. So often one arm blankets the other.

In several recent cases at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court it was .pointed out that motorists had attempted to go over crossings as soon as one train had passed. In two of the cases, there was a train coming each way, and, although one driver escaped, the other was not so fortunate and hit the second train.

Extensive alterations to its club-house are proposed by the.Canterbury Automobile Association. Provision will be made for a suite of offices and a large meeting room on the ground floor, while on the first floor will be a billiard room, buffet, lounge room, card room, library, and reference room, and a private room for the use of the president. The association elected 80 new members last week.

Mr. Shaw, the Minister for Labour, replying to questions- in the House of Commons, just before the dissolution, stated that the, number of persons engaged in the construction and repair of motor-cars, motor lorries, motor buses, motor-cycles, cycles, and aircraft registered as unemployed in Great Britain on September 22, 1924, was 21,475, compared with 23,532 on September 24, 1923. The total figures for the unemployed were 1,198,800, as compared with 1,009,444 on June 30, and 1,048,261 on July 28. He was not aware of any evidence that any part'of the increase was due to the repeal of the McKenna Duties.

Last year four-wheel brakes and fabric bodies were the outstanding improvements to be noted. This year, the seal of success has been placed upon the two features enumerated, and also upon the low pressure tyro, by reason of the exhaustive tests to which these have been subjected at the hands of the public during the intervening twelve months. No longer is the desirability of front wheel brakes question Bd. The low pressure tyre scored an immediate success, and, with the growing popularity of covered cars, naturally the fabric body, by reason of its light weight and silence in operation, has been largely adopted, particularly for mounting on chassis of medium and low power.

A concrete road provides a rigid foundation, and, if unsurfaced, a rigid wearing surface to resist the wear and tear of mechanically-propelled traffic. A concrete wearing surface differs from a bituminous surface in that it will not adhere to tars and bitumens, and in proof of this numerous cases could be cited where tarsprayed concrete has been worn bare or patchy in less than one month from its application. This does not happen with ashphalt surfaces. It follows, therefore, that fine dust, soil or mud which may adhere to asphalt will not adhere to concrete.

It may. be further noted that, owing to this fact, concrete is more readily cleaned under atmospheric and weather conditions than other types of road.

The co-efficient of friction on wet concrete is greater than on wet asphalt. The " grain " of concrete obtained by the use of suitable aggregate remains, whereas the asphalt surface moves and changes its texture with the weather and traffic. Concrete resists wave format/ion more successfully than any other clats of road, because it is " rigid." Contrary to popular opinion, horses do not slip on concrete, and, in point of fact, horse traffic has been observed deliberately to seek the concrete road, upon which it is much easier to draw a load.

Motor-cycle races on Takapuna racecourse next Saturday.

The Sports Club's hill climb will be held on Saturday, December 13.

H. LeVack on a 250 c.c. J.H.P. has covered over 75 miles in an hour.

• The output of the B.S.A. motor-cycles for 1924 has reached the 20,000 mark.

A 175 <c.c. engine recently gained four world's records including 56m. 1256 yds. in one hour.

Advice has been received that the O.H.V. 2J h.p. B.S.A. has gained conspicuous success in Japanese events.

Severl new J.A.P. engines are being marketed notably 298 c.c. side by side valve and 488 c.c. O.H.V. singles and a 976 c.c. O.H.V. twin.

Among the prizes in the Warrnambool Bicycle raco was an Indian sidecar outfit while a New Hudson motor-cycle was given in the Dunlop Amateur "100."

The strength of a chain lies in its weakest link. It will pay to frequently clean and oil your chains watching at the same time for strained or loose side plates.

In the case of two competitors entering on one machine, in future only one mechanic's ticket will bo allowed per machine. This is being enforced in order to try and keep the saddling paddock as clear as possible.

Now is the time to examine tubes for faulty patches. Repairs which have held in. the winter will begin to lift on the long summer trips over hot roads, where the heat, generated by road friction, causes the solution to soften.

With the coming of the racing season noisy exhausts are beginning to be noticeable. It is not necessary to make a noise to be a good rider. Noise only offends the ear and makes the sport unpopular with the public. Cut out the open cut-out.

Recently the Triumph Company shipped 172 cases of motor-cycles to one order. The total weight of this shipment was over 35 tons, and was valued at £12,000. This is an instance indicative of the growing popularity of the British motor-cycle.

Over 250, entries have been received for the Auckland Motor Racing Club's meeting next Saturday. Besides Coleman and Managh there is a host of good riders, including Moller, Crockett, McCready, Blackmore, Goodwin, Shakespear, and Jones. McGregor, who won the Great Northern Handicap a few years ago, is also reappearing. The Australasian Junior Championship has attracted 22 entrants.

A reasonfor the necessity of careful running in oi new machines relates to the question of distortion. Both cylinders and pistons are castings—they have been made by pouring molten metal into a mould. As the metal cools and solidifies it does so at varying rates in the different parts of the casting, so that when the solid metal is finally taken from the mould it is subjected to strong internal strains as a result of this unequal cooling.

American and Continental designers have been greatly impressed with the recent successes of the British light-weight motor-cycle, and British manufacturers, have now established a very valuable lead in the production of a miniature engine of 175 c.c. The road worthiness of this machine is amply demonstrated by successes recently achieved in South Africa, where, as an illustration, it may be stated that in a road race near Johannesburg a rider completed the course of 100 miles on a British; machine of 174 c.c. capacity at an approximate average of 32.6 m.p.h. Other 175 c.c. British machines have also put up wonderful performances in 'the recent International Tourist Trophy races, where average speeds were obtained of nearly 52 m.p.h.

There has been no greater triumph for the British motor-cycle industry than the T.T. races, organised by the Auto-Cycle Union, which take place annually over the famous mountain course in the Isle of Man. The manner in which machines and their accessories stood up to this gr '.e'lmg test was little less than uncanny. Over thirty-seven miles of difficult roads with fifteen acute bends, a long climb up a mountain road and a long descent the other side, over narrow bridges and hunchback hills, some of the winning mounts averaged a speed exceeding that of an express train. On different hairpin bends the tyres actually cut a groove in the road, so great was the friction set up. The strain on side-cars when cornering was abnormal, and it says much for the stout nature of their attachments that none came adrift. To emerge a winner in the T.T. races marks a machine as a well-nigh perfect product, while to finish and qualify for an award is a guarantee of the highest standard of excellence. Not only is the engine tested to its utmost capacity by the terrific speeds—this year all records were broken—but every other part, including gear-box, clutch, brakes, magneto, chains, controls, tyres, bearings, and I even the smallest split pin.

OPOTIKI CLUB.

The Opotiki Motor-cycle Club will hold its annual race meeting at Opotiki on December 26. An attractive programme has been draw) up, the President's Handicap, 15 miles, being tho big race, offering £29 10s for prize money. Special cash awards are also being given for tho fastest flying mile for machines up to 3£ h.p., and also for machines from 3£ h.p. to 7 h.p. Entries close on December 13.

DAMAGED WHILE GARAGED.

Who is responsible for damage done to a car while it is standing in a garage? This question was raised in the Margate County Court recently, but the Judge did not help to solve the problem. The plaintiff, naturally, could not say who had damaged his car, which had been standing in a local garage, and the garage proprietor produced a notice disclaiming responsibility, which was hung on the garage wall. Judgment was given for the defendant. It would be interesting to have an authoritative ruling on this point.

NON-SKID CONCRETE ROADS.

WAIKATO SAIiE SEASON.

HAMILTON REGISTRATIONS.

MATAMATA COUNTY LOAN WORKS.

MAIN ROADS.

MOTOR-OYOLING.